This homeowner fell in love with this whimsical, hand-painted silk wall covering from de Gournay. Its cheerful songbirds, along with the bold tangerine velvet of the vintage dining chairs, give the room a lighthearted air.

Designer Megan Winters describes her style as “current and classic, with a sense of humor.” No better way to express those qualities than with plenty of pooches. Here, dogs dominate in soulful prints on the wall, as well as a large statue on the table. Down, boy!

This music room is custom-painted with a magical menagerie. Monkeys, giraffes, big cats, and tiny snails adorn the walls, while a bust of a noble horse sits on the piano. The lampshade, too, has a safari look.

Designer Julia Szabo, author of The Underdog: A Celebration of Mutts, revived these old cast-iron terriers by stripping away flaking paint and gilding the damaged dog. They now stand proud in her pet-friendly living room.

Vibrant and classic, zebra print can often have a hard time fitting into a traditional space. Designer Kenneth Brown has added a cascade of black and white photographs to complement the chairs’ contrasting hues.

Animal-inspired prints abound in this home designed by Lisa Sternfeld. A chair from Clarence House is upholstered in fanciful zebra print from Jonas. Its hues complement the sofa pillows, which look like cowhide but are in fact needlepoint.

In 2006, designer Eric Cohler produced his own collection of fabrics. “’Unleashed,’” he says, “was the celebration of the American dog—especially those that my family has had as pets over the years.” His black and white poodles Tyler and Sebastian are included in the design.

Architect Ken Tate put his design skills to the test in his own New Orleans home. “”You throw in what works,” he says. “You might ask, did you measure it? No, I just tasted it. I know what it should taste like.” Tate followed his instinct by adding chenille zebra print pillows in the chocolate-brown guest bedroom to add a little flair against the dark walls.

In a Lake Forest, Illinois, showhouse, designer Gail Plechaty creates a serene space in the master bedroom which balances dreamy feminine with elements of masculine heft. “It is maddening to me when the exterior and interior do not flow as one,” she explains. “After all, the world’s best architect and designer is Mother Nature.”

Designer Jeffrey Bilhuber identifies his decorative mojo as a dashing marriage of modernity (like luxurious fabrics and clean lines) and tradition (what he calls “the connective tissue that bonds the past with the future.”). This room exemplifies his style with natural textures, sleek furniture, and a subtle dash of leopard print on the throw pillows to tie it all together.